Writing & Publishing How to Thrive as an Author in Your Twilight Years

From Thomas Umstattd Jr.'s Christian publishing podcast:

An elderly author recently asked me how retired authors can make the most of the time they have left. It's an insightful question, and the truth is, we all need to be asking that question, no matter our age.​

Making the most of your time isn't just for retirees. It's for everyone who wants to make the most of their writing time before they die.
How do you make the most of your final years as an author? We'll talk about it in this week's episode. You'll learn how to

• clarify your writing goals
• avoid damaging shortcuts
• assess the challenges and advantages of writing in your later years

You're never too old to start writing. Join us to find out how to make the most of your writing years.

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Thanks for posting this, @Johne. It's an interesting piece.

Every once in a while I have the question pop into my head, "How many books will I publish? Will I write all I need to write before I pass on?" Or will I be like Stig Larsson or Robert Jordan and probably thousands of unknown authors who's books and series went unfinished.

On the otherhand there's the terror of "What if God's waiting to take me home the instant I finish the last book He wants me to write?" I might WANT to enjoy my success with the book and not just be loved ONLY postumously.

So I'm rather ambivalent about the quesiton.

I feel that the BEST thing to write, in our "twilight" years is either a memoir, journal, or both. When we are either "called home" or "Raptured up", there will STILL be others left behind that may benefit from our life experiences and testimonies from walking in faith. Remember, Anne Frank did not set out to write a book. Yet, the writings of her diary gave a very personal view of the mind of a young girl's life during one of the most horrific times of humanity. We do not know whether or not it will that writing will have that same impact as Miss Frank's or just become another "best seller". That is not the point. What we will be leaving behind is a work that may, somehow, be of comfort to those that we leave behind so that during their "times of grief", they could have something to refer to and find some solace.....humor.....sage advice.....insight that is uniquely....ours. Amen?

M. D. Boncher said:

On the otherhand there's the terror of "What if God's waiting to take me home the instant I finish the last book He wants me to write?"

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@M. D. Boncher, I'd like to share something personal. A couple of years ago I experienced a something physiological that certainly got my attention (see my short story Mea Purgatorium for a little background). Soon after, I had (or heard) a thought eerily similar to your question. Since then, I have continued to work earnestly on the book in question; HOWEVER, I have also been inspired to write five additional stories. As of today, I'm still working on a sixth fictional novella and the "other" book.

That said, I want to reassure you, the internal dialogue between my soul and its creator leaves no "terror" in my heart. Surely I fear for those whom I might leave behind, but please let me offer a different perspective. If Our Lord ascended when his work was completed here on Earth, then shouldn't we be excited to do the same when the book of our life (literally and figuratively) is finished? Shouldn't we tell the tale God inspires within us to the best of our ability and then offer it up for His glory?

I have accepted the thought of being called home when my story is finished. I've also resigned myself to any suffering that may, or may not, take place upon its completion. I can only hope that any imitation of Christ I might muster will please Him. Yet...(here is the secret I keep) what if the book in question is not the one "He wants me to write?" What if there is more inspiration forthcoming? I will write happily until Our Father determines my time has come.

Whendancer64 said:

there will STILL be others left behind that may benefit from our life experiences and testimonies

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Ahhhh, now that is a thought worth being happy about. Besides, my expectation is to be "discovered" after I am gone. In the interim, I'll continue to work on a legacy for my children.

Whendancer64 said:

I feel that the BEST thing to write, in our "twilight" years is either a memoir, journal, or both. When we are either "called home" or "Raptured up", there will STILL be others left behind that may benefit from our life experiences and testimonies from walking in faith. Remember, Anne Frank did not set out to write a book. Yet, the writings of her diary gave a very personal view of the mind of a young girl's life during one of the most horrific times of humanity. We do not know whether or not it will that writing will have that same impact as Miss Frank's or just become another "best seller". That is not the point. What we will be leaving behind is a work that may, somehow, be of comfort to those that we leave behind so that during their "times of grief", they could have something to refer to and find some solace.....humor.....sage advice.....insight that is uniquely....ours. Ame

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A "memoir" written by a relative of mine who recently passed away went horribly wrong since it contained questionable "recollections" of events involving living family members in it. Another of my relatives found it on an old floppy and sent it to the same still-living relatives, who felt they were slandered in it, resulting in a big mess. I took it upon myself to clean up the manuscript and revise the offensive scenes (they involved minors being kicked out of the family home after the now-deceased relative remarried) so that it was "safe-to-read" (i.e. just contained an objective chain of events), added a book cover, and put it into a Kindle book format, then sent it to all of my relatives who received the original, questionable document. Even the relative who sent out the questionable first document later thanked me.

As for myself, I've had an interesting life, having lived in many other countries in addition to my native USA. Still, I have no plans to write a memoir. This experience prompted me to go through some of my own long-forgotten files and start deleting any I thought might upset other family members. I'm getting up there, too....

Thank you, BK, for this insightful response. It has helped me to understand why so many people choose to leave this world without answering so many questions regarding family history and relations. I guess that is where the saying, "I'm takin' it to my grave." comes from. I, too, have been entrusted with something that would be better left "six feet under" than to be let loose to scatter to the wind to break so many fragile hearts. There is a truth that goes: "You can't unring a bell."
Having said that, "oral tradition"has helped piece together a lot of my family's history. It if were not for our "elder relations" still having the ability to "recollect" things (some were in their 90s) - my family would have lost so much of our history to past on to the generations to come. I would have never been able to trace my father's lineage back to Ireland nor my mother's back to China.
Most, if not all, of the blanks have been filled in and it's always nice to know how the dots got connected until the day of your own birth, isn't it?
I, myself, started journalling when I was 19. At one point, I had filled the pages of, at least, 7 journals. Years ago, I put them in a plastic bag, and tossed them in the nearest dumpster.
Why? Because upon perusing some of the entries, I realized that there were things written in them that would do more harm than inspire. So, the most loving and kind thing for me to do was to throw them out.
I still journal. But, now, I try to make sure that, if I should leave this world, then those left behind would be able to read pages that would, somehow, convey this message;"It is well with my soul." Blessings!